Pamela Hachem, a Lebanese self-taught photographer, is using the power of photography to convey a different side of Lebanon that is often overlooked in the media.
The 24-year-old aims to tell authentic 'Stories from Lebanon' through her very own lens.
"Each person has a story to tell, an object to display and a passion to show," Hachem tells StepFeed when asked about the start of her project 'Portrait Of What You Love.'
She explains that her journey really started out as a hobby which soon developed into an undying passion.
She is a digital marketing and PR executive by day, and an explorer by night.
"I found out that photography is not just about that (taking random photos). It’s a passion that goes beyond reality, an astonishing connection between the photographer and the image they want to convey," she says.
Hachem's work has been featured in over two dozen international magazines including Bored Panda, Tabi Labo, Darlin and Photogrist.
The inception of #PortraitsOfWhatYouLove
Hachem's project first started out in 2016. At the time, she knew that portraits -of a single person or a group of people - have immense power to capture expressions and personalities, something that is often missed by the average eye.
But, she wanted to take simple portraits a step further. How?
"I started to think that each person has a story to tell, an object to display and a passion to show, something that became their own identity/personality.
And then, I created this concept along with its hashtag #PortraitOfWhatYouLove. It is an artistic and conceptual project which conveys a story behind every portrait," Hachem tells StepFeed.
The project started in 2016 with a core focus on Lebanon, but Hachem has an ambitious plan for the coming years.
"It is unconventional, as the main idea behind it is that every person holds the object that conveys his passion. I started this project in Lebanon last year, and I'm aiming to go international. There are so many stories to tell."
Hachem has captured faces, stories, heartbreak and love through her photo series. Here's a glimpse:
"For over 30 years, I have been the voice of those who cannot speak, the voice of the weak to protect them and make them stronger," Gemmayze's cat lady Angele told Hachem.
"These are not wrinkles. These are the survival lines of my life. Each one holds a story, a laugh or a cry."
"People might not know us well, but we know a lot about them."
"My soul is fed with needle and thread."
"A lahem baajin a day, keeps the doctor away."
"Sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed in a subject I start speaking uncommon words, especially while taking pictures," Hachem tells us.
